Part 1
After lunch, Han Yue and Long Yi were sitting in the living room, quietly enjoying tea.
Long Yi's phone buzzed. He set his teacup down and answered with a short, "Hm."
On the other end, Secretary Wen's voice came through.
"Sir, the researchers have confirmed that the mushrooms are indeed high in protein—about five times more than regular meat. They also greatly increase satiety, contain no toxins, and are completely edible. If processed properly, they can be stored for a long time."
Long Yi's answer was calm and decisive.
"Proceed as planned."
"Yes, sir."
A moment later, Secretary Wen forwarded the full research report to Commander Long.
Long Yi placed his phone aside and turned his gaze toward Han Yue, who was nibbling on cookies beside him. Reaching over, he gently caught one of her pigtails and twirled it between his fingers.
"Shall we go for a walk tomorrow?"
Han Yue looked up, noticing him toying with her hair. She reached out, poked his cheek, and teased,
"Aren't you busy?"
He caught her mischievous finger, lifted it toward his lips, and murmured,
"I'm not that busy anymore. I've distributed more responsibilities to the others."
Then he kissed her fingertip, his smile lingering as his eyes stayed on her.
Han Yue pouted, leaned her head on his shoulder, and replied warmly,
"Good. Don't shoulder everything by yourself all the time. Everyone's here to help and share the burden of protecting our family."
Resting his chin lightly on her head, Long Yi said,
"Mm. I realized during the meeting that I've been too obsessed with keeping control and holding all the power. But this is a different era now—one where we have to work together. I can't be like I was before the end, doing everything alone. Now, I know what I need to do."
Han Yue's heart swelled. He wasn't giving up or losing focus—he was learning to trust the people who would stand beside him in this chaotic world. Being alone had its strengths, but it also meant bearing every burden, cutting oneself off from others, and being drained by one's own obsessions.
She was glad that meeting had enlightened him. It took her time, too, to realize she was no longer alone—she now had comrades and family who would face both joy and hardship together. She would protect them, and they would protect her.
While the two were finding peace in their hearts, far away, in a secure and heavily guarded conference room, a confidential meeting was taking place. Some participants were present in person, others joined via encrypted video call.
Gathered there were influential figures in the government and military—both active and retired—whose power still carried weight.
Among them sat the President of the Dragon Kingdom, Xia Zhengyuan. He was as composed and enigmatic as ever, carrying the quiet gravity of a seasoned leader. Time had only added a few strands of white hair to his dignified presence.
The room was tense, the topic urgent: a rumor about an "Awakening Potion."
One voice said sharply,
"We must get our hands on these potions."
Another added,
"They should have been handed over to the government from the beginning. What are they waiting for?"
"They should contribute to the Dragon Kingdom as citizens!"
"With these, we could save countless lives."
"If we can obtain them early, we'd have a buffer to train before the upcoming solar mutation."
The discussion was heated—half demand, half desire. Then someone asked the most important question of all:
"What do they want for these potions? Isn't this just a rumor leaked to us?"
Some suspected conspiracy. Others couldn't deny that curiosity had taken root. Everyone here knew about Awakened humans. A few had appeared even before the apocalypse—like that strange "alien wizard" who went viral online for traveling to Sushi Country and Freedom Country, pulling off zero-yuan shopping sprees, and vanishing into thin air.
Official reports confirmed the existence of such people. Only a handful had been captured—either for training or research—but they were out there. If awakening potions were real, they could give the Dragon Kingdom a powerful advantage.
The desire in the room was palpable.
At last, Xia Zhengyuan spoke. His tone was calm but carried authority.
"Let's wait and see. Whoever leaked this did it deliberately to plant the seed. We will wait for their demands and their purpose."
Some agreed. Others pushed for immediate investigation. Differing thoughts clashed, but one thing was certain—interest had been ignited, and it would not fade quietly.
That evening, after the meeting dispersed, Commander Long didn't linger in his office.He went straight to work.
The Awakening Potion — two vials of the lowest grade — was sealed in a military-grade container, along with a neatly compiled report. The first half detailed their carefully planned "awakening demonstration." The second was an in-depth analysis of the strange mushrooms that had sprouted after the Rain — growth patterns, nutrient breakdown, and confirmation from Secretary Wen's tests that they were safe to eat.
It was information the capital would find impossible to ignore.
Commander Long didn't deliver it himself. His position near Long Yi's base meant leaving for several days was out of the question. Instead, the package was entrusted to a vetted courier — an officer with clearance to pass sealed orders directly to high-ranking government hands.
The dispatch left under the cover of night, unmarked and unremarkable, its destination known only to the sender, the courier, and the man waiting to receive it.
By morning, the seed was already on its way to root in the capital.